Feb. 4 (Bloomberg) -- Chang Chia-Juch, chairman of Taoyuan,
Taiwan-based China Airlines Ltd., will lead Taiwan’s economy
ministry as part of an executive branch personnel shake-up that
started Jan. 31.

Chang succeeds Shih Yen-shiang, 62, who has led the
island’s Ministry of Economic Affairs since September 2009, the
Executive Yuan, or Cabinet, said in a statement late yesterday.
Minister Without Portfolio Kuan Chung-Ming, 56, will also lead
the Council for Economic Planning and Development, taking over
from Yiin Chii-ming, according to the Cabinet, which didn’t
specify an effective date.

The leadership changes follow the promotion of Vice Premier
Jiang Yi-Huah to premier, and a decision to re-appoint central
bank Governor Perng Fai-Nan to a fourth five-year term. Taiwan
President Ma Ying-jeou is battling a 14 percent approval rating
as he seeks to strengthen an economy that last year grew at the
slowest pace in three years.

Chang, who was Vice Minister of Transportation and
Communications for a decade until 2005, took over as chairman of
Taiwan’s biggest carrier in January 2011, according to a
statement from the airline announcing his new role. He is also a
former chairman of China Steel Corp., Taiwan’s largest
steelmaker.

Under his watch, China Airlines joined the SkyTeam airline
alliance and an alliance with mainland Chinese carriers
including China Southern Airlines Co. to expand networks and
boost revenue.

China Airlines spokesman Hamilton Liu yesterday said he
doesn’t know who will be the new chairman. China Airlines has
gained 7.1 percent so far this year.